Last for making slippers, low shoes, or oxfords



y M, F. Mcm?? LAST FOR 'MAKING SLPPERS, LOW SHCES, OR OXFORDS Fila@ Marcin 16, lli-25 ltatented May iCHi-lil'i F. MC'NFF, OF GHICAGO, ILLINOS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH TG JAY D. IdIILLEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

LAST FR MAKING SLIPEERS, LW. SHGES, 0R OXFORDS.

application inea March 1e, 1925. serial no. mp5s.

My invention relates to the manufacture of footwear or slides, and more especially to lasts for making slippers, low shoes or Oxfords.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a last, especially for low shoes or'slippers, the' heel and instep of which are so designed in shape and cross-section, that the shoe made thereon as a pattern or form, will closely hug or grip the foot, lout not under excessive pressure, so that the low shoe or slipper will not have the tendency to move downwardlyv or away from the toot when. the wearer steps on the hall of the foot duri-ng the act of walking.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the last that the slipper or low shoe ,patterned thereon, will hug the sides I oit the foot and the heel and will prevent gai ping or spreading and further prevents thl low shoe or slipper from becoming unsightly at the sides 'and heel, and will conform to the heel of the wearer and prevent the low shoe or slipper from moving up and down and cause it to remain confined at the heel, thus also preventing the usual ruhbing and wearing of the hose and the forming of a, blister at the heel.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings as the description proceeds. lln the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a last constructcd or patterned in accordance with the invention, and v,

Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sections taken on the line 2 2 and 3--3 of Figure "Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the last loody is designated generally at l and may he produced of wood or other` suitable material in any preferred or known manner. The novelty o'f the invention consists among other features, in a novel formation of heel, and in making the last so that the shoe made or 'form-cd over said last will conform to the natural outlines of :ii/foot when placed on the foot or in other words, while the shoe is heing worn. The toe portion of the said last is curved. up at the ball and arch but rounded in cross-section as indicated' at 6 with a dat or level portion 7 at the hase or loottom of the heel, also rounded in cross section.`

The instep, instead of being substantially straight, is curved upwardly ou a convex are as indicated at 8, projecting at 9 alcoveY and merging into and with the top edge l() which curves downwardly and extends hack substantially straight to the back of the heel portion.

The particular part ol the improvement relates to the heel portion, in conjunction with the cross-section of the last as will also fully appear. Ilhe edge l0 projects rearwardly and the contour or outline of the heel of the last is formed by two oppositely curved meeting arcs 1l and l2 forming a reverse curvature or compound curve. The

upper curve or are ll is concave and merges into and with the convex lower part at the point where the bony part of the heel of the foot begins. By this means, the heel of the foot is confined in the heel porti/in of the shoe between a point about centrally of the concaved are 1l and the bottom of the heel or' the .shoe .at a point about at the back or beginning of the arch or in front y of the bottom of the heel proper. In other words, -a tightening or confining eliect is exerted in a downward and forward direction on a diagonal line substantially 'as indicated ,by the dotted arrow line X as seen in Figure l of the drawings when the shoe is spread or filled out by the pressure or the ioot in the low shoe or slipper. This action, retains the shoe snugly fitted and in proper position on the foot without depending up'- on the tightening of the fastening or lacing which is solely relied upon in the low shoes or slippers as heretofore constructed in order to retain the shoe in proper position, but without success. Thus, with this new construction, it is unnecessary to lace the shoe tight and this relieves the instep and ankle of the foot of pressure und enables complete -freedom of motion as well as comfort' to the wearer, especially in the act of walking.

Figure 2 shows the cross-section of the last on the line 2 2 of Figure l, and it will he observed that the same is tapered toward the top 10 and concaved on opposite sidesv as at 13 with the upper portions parallel to each other and normal or perpendicular to the top :tace or edge 10. in other words, the last and low shoe or slipper made theretrom is made narrower than usual in order to combine with the heel 'formation pro- Thus. it will be seen, that the hist iP eend in ein duce the new and desirable tit heretofore described.

Figure shows the cross-section of the luist on the line f-3 of Figure l, from which it w'll be observed that the sides 14 are lslightly concaved and slope or slant' ontwurdly 'troni the rounding top7 that is, diverge downwardly :ind converge upwardly.

.5 E emily ot tapered or triangular cross-section :ind with the special und novel heel curvature ns described, n low shoe er slipper produced thereon, will contrnrt nt the sides und drow in :it the heel to tighten on the toot, with the ndvnntngcs previously referred to in detnil. 'this prevents the low shoe or slipper from gripping; open nt the sides 21nd spreadingV nt the heel, und instend ot leuving the top of the heel loose. it will closely hug, or grip the foot so that the low shoe' or slipper will not have the tendency to nieve downwardly or away Yl'roni the foot when the wearer steps on the bnll of the foot during the ziet of ynlking'.

While I have described niy invention in detnil, I run aware that ninny changes may be nnide :ind nun'ierous detnils olf construeN tion varied throughout a .wide range witliout departing` troni the principles of this invention, and l therefore, do not purpose limiting the potent `granted thereon other wise than necessitated by the prior nrt.

I eluini as my invention zl. A last having the contour of the heel formed by two oppositely Curved merging arcs, the lower are being convex and the upper are being conceive7 whereby :t shoe inode weasel 'from the lust will be contracted and tightened innnediutely :ibove the bony port ot the heel and tension exerted downwardly toward the arch.

A lest tor low shoes or slippers having` its heel eut on :i reverse curve, witlrthe lower portion rounded :ind the upper portion eonenved to the top und curving;r reorwnrdly nt the top. said lust being ot upwardly tzipered cross-section- 3. A last for low shoes or slippers having its licei eut on n reverse curve, with the lower portion `rounded and the upper por tion concnved to the top and curvinc- 'reni'- wnrdly ntl the top, snid lust being,r olI up wnrdly tapered cross-section7 und-narrower than the ordinary width.

4. A lust wherein the conlignrntion ot' the heel is 'formed by two oppositely enrvel merging arcs, the lower are being convex end the upper nre being concuve, seid lost having oppositely sloping` sides at the instep :ind :t rounded. bottoni und conceived sides ut the sides ot the heel narrowed townrd the. top.

5. A lust wherein the configuration olf the heel is torined by two-opposiiely curved merging arcs, the lower :irc being Convex nnd the upper :ire being` conenved. seid inst` haring( oppositely sloping' lint sides :it the instep and the opposite sides olt the lower portion of the heel. convex und of the upper portion concnred nnd :ipprmiclling` the top substantially parallel to euch other :ind norninl to the top.

n testimony whereof I :iltix my signature. 

